New Mexican restaurant to open downtown

Last edited 3:51 p.m., Oct. 24, 2016

A Mexican restaurant is scheduled to open downtown next month in space left vacant last year by Blu Sesame Asian Diner and Takeout.

Husband-and-wife owners Juan Pavon and Maria Hernandez are targeting a Nov. 1 opening for the 431 S. Jefferson Ave. restaurant dubbed Yoselin’s Mexican Cuisine & More LLC, pending inspection by the city.

“There’s no place to get authentic Mexican food downtown,” Pavon said.

For short, the restaurant is called Yoselin, a common Mexican name. It’s also the name of one of Hernandez’s family members. Pavon said the restaurant would initially employ around six and serve such food as tamales, sopes and gorditas. The restaurant also would be open late to cater to the downtown crowd and have a stage for open-mic performances.

Pavon and Hernandez operated a Yoselin restaurant in Pittsburg, Kansas, for five years until selling it recently to move closer to family in Springfield.

“Bees over honey - that’s what it is,” Pavon said of the concept that became popular in Pittsburg. “They just can’t stay away.”

Pavon and Hernandez lease the roughly 3,000-square-food space at Wilhoit Plaza. Wilhoit Properties real estate agent Anita Zimmerman said the couple signed a five-year lease for undisclosed terms. The couple's investment in the space also was undisclosed.

Blu Sesame owner Angel Kim moved out of the space in February 2015 and the next month opened Novo Asian Bistro on West Sunshine Street. The South Jefferson Avenue space has been vacant ever since. Maria's Mexican Restaurant also operates downtown at 406 South Ave.